Battle of the Atlantic

• The British submarine Sealion sinks the Norwegian steamer Ryfylke (1151t) 2 miles north of Kvitenaes Point near Stadlandet.
• The British anti-submarine trawler Tourmaline (641t) is sunk by German bombing off North Foreland.
• The Greek steamer Ioannis M. Embiricos (3734t) is sunk by German bombing northwest of Ireland. The entire crew is rescued.

Mediterranean

The British steamer Ranee sinks on a mine in the Suez Canal with the loss of 9 crewmen.

North Africa

The 4th Arm Bde and armored cars of the 11th Hussars reach the coast road near Beda Fomm after their drive across Cyrenaica. Heavier tank units are following rapidly. They succeed in cutting off the Italian column heading for Agedabia from Benghazi. The retreating Italian columns are engaged and about 5,000 men, Italian gunners and civilians, are captured southeast of Beda Fomm. In the north the Australians take Barce.

Bardia, a fortified Libyan seaport, was captured by British forces, with more than 38,000 Italian prisoners, including four generals, and vast quantities of war material. An endless stream of Italian prisoners leaves Bardia, on February 5, 1941, after the Australians had taken possession.

Italian Prisoners Leaving Bardia

Italian Position Overrun by British Forces

In a note to Mussolini, Hitler expresses his unhappiness at the way the Italian commanders are conducting operations in North Africa. He offers the help of an armored division providing the Italians hold firm in the meantime and do not withdraw as far as Tripoli.